Oregon football recruiting: Ducks miss Russell but add 3 to the Law Firm, more parity and craziness

Five-star wide receiver Calvin Russell committed to Syracuse Saturday night, continuing the trend of top recruits going to a great variety of places.

NIL and the portal seem to be creating more parity and upward mobility in college football recruiting. In all 26 of the 32 five-star prospects in the 247 Sports Composite have chosen a school as of July 6, and they've chosen some unusual and nontraditional spots.

Russell, a 6-5 wide receiver and a slick-shooting guard in basketball, chose Syracuse for Fran Brown's high-output passing offense and a storied ACC basketball team. No. 5 overall tackle Felix Ojo chose Texas Tech on Friday.

Top edge rusher Zion Elee committed to Maryland on December 7. No. 3 overall Keisean Henderson, a quarterback from Spring, Texas, picked Houston in May of last year and has stuck with that pledge.

BYU nabbed its first-ever five-star commit and highest-ranked recruit ever when Ryder Lyons selected the Cougars over Oregon and USC on June 24th. Texas A&M grabbed a pair, Brandon Arrington at 29, defensive lineman Bryce Perry-Wright at 32.

Just six five-stars remain uncommitted, among them Tyler Atkinson who visited the Ducks on June 6.

Dan Lanning and his staff have made a remarkable comeback over the last three weeks, going from just seven recruits to 14 over that time, including three on the offensive line, 5-star Immanuel Iheanacho, four-star Tommy Tofi and three-star Koloi Keli.

Keli won Offensive Line MVP this weekend at the Under Armor Next prospect camp in Maui where current Oregon center and Rimington Award candidate Iapani "Poncho" Laloulu served as a counselor.

Keli's blend of power and agility marks him as a recruit due for a ratings bump, as well as a candidate to succeed Laloulu at center if he continues to develop.

Meanwhile Erik Skopil of 247 notes that Tofi has attributes that fellow 247 analyst Greg Biggins compares to (gulp) Penei Sewell. While some have assumed Tofi will have to move inside because of his size, 6-6, 345, Biggins told the Autzen Audibles podcast:

"I think Tommy has tackle feet and tackle length," he explained. "I have no doubt he can play tackle — right side or maybe even the left side. He's got a basketball background and moves really really well."

"Like I said, he's 340 now and if he were to lose 10-15 pounds, I think that would help him. But his balance, and length, he has an 80-plus wingspan... I love that pick up."

The athletic ability is what makes Tofi stand out. He can dunk a basketball and has good hands, an underrated attribute in an offensive lineman.

With Oregon missing out on Russell and Boobie Feaster choosing USC Friday, it adds importance to Jalen Lott's commitment announcement on Tuesday. The explosive wide receiver from Frisco, Texas has been high on receiver coach Ross Douglas' target list.

If he adds Lott to dynamic four-star Messiah Hampton and 2025 commit Gatlin Bair, who will returning from his LDS mission in the fall of 2026, that's an impressive trio for restocking the receiver room. Hampton displays terrific ball skills, Lott's a leaper with speed and spring, and Bair is one of the fastest prep sprinters in history with 10.15 speed in the 100 meters.